Some Morning-After Pills Available Over The Counter, Appeals Court Rules

The two-pill version of the morning-after pill must be immediately available over-the-counter without age restrictions, a federal appeals court has ruled today. However, the court also upheld a “stay” on the one-pill version of emergency contraception (called Plan B One-Step), essentially agreeing with the Obama administration that its use for young teens needs further review.

In response to today’s decision, the president for the Center of Reproductive Rights said in a statement, “After more than a decade of politically motivated delays, women will no longer have to endure intrusive, onerous and medically unnecessary restrictions to get emergency contraception.”

If taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, emergency contraception is almost 90 percent effective in preventing a pregnancy. Therefore, advocates have been fighting to get the pill available without age restrictions, because requiring teens 16 and younger to get a doctor’s prescription for the contraceptive wastes precious time. (Additionally, the age restriction privileges teens that have identification listing their age over those that do not.)

Leolah Brown, sister to Bobby Brown and aunt to Bobbi Kristina was kicked out of her niece’s funeral yesterday after verbally lashing at Pat Houston Bobbi Kristina’s former manager as well as sister-in-law to Bobbi Kristina’s mother Whitney Houston. Phew. That was a mouthful.